Gain Music Academy was sparked from a desire to weave the love of music with superior technical education. Natalie and the GMA teachers seek to daily come alongside students to nurture a love of music while not letting technical quality and music theory fall by the wayside.
Inspired and mentored by her own violin instructor, Natalie began a private teaching career in her early teens. Later, while teaching through a private music studio in Alaska, Natalie became aware of a lack of balance in the focus of music lessons. Some studios emphasize a simple love of music. Some studios focus on theory and technique. While neither are bad approaches, Natalie was hoping to teach for a studio that would combine a balanced approach to both of these passions.
After moving back home to Indiana, Natalie couldn’t find the studio philosophy she was looking for. So Gain Music Academy was born. Since then, Natalie and her teaching staff have welcomed beginners as young as 4-years-old to adults. Every student is unique and has different learning styles and personalities. Some are adult beginners who have always wanted to learn the violin, others are young virtuosos, and still others are students with special needs, finding confidence through their music. Natalie tailors every lesson towards the unique needs of the student.
Natalie and the GMA teaching staff have also had the chance to work with several different types of special needs students. Those struggling with learning disabilities and sensory issues have found a home at Gain Music Academy. Students with limited vision, arthritis, and Cerebral Palsy have been able to become quality musicians, giving them an outlet for creativity and boosting their confidence through music.
In the past few years, Natalie has continued to develop the studio feel of Gain Music Academy. She has worked to create a musical community that interacts with and encourages one another. While still small, Natalie began to develop opportunities for her students through studio incentive programs, recitals, outings, and more. As Gain Music Academy continues to grow and hire new teachers, Natalie works hard to pass on her music teaching philosophy. Her end goal is that all of her students become quality violin players without sacrificing their love of music.